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We Need to Talk About Robots: Gender, Datafication and AI

This talk reviews how the acceleration of data infrastructure development and growing adoption of data practices in everyday life are entwined with wider cultural discourses about gender and sexuality. Using artificial intelligence (AI) assistants and social robots such as Alexa and Siri as an example, it analyses these links from a feminist data studies perspective focusing on three key themes.

Aristea Fotopoulou is the author of “Feminist Activism and Digital Networks: Between Empowerment and Vulnerability” (2017, Palgrave Macmillan/Springer) and currently writing the book “Feminist Data Studies: Big Data, Critique and Social Justice” (2020, SAGE).

Local perspectives on Climate Change, Participatory Video in Somotillo, Nicaragua (CCAFS Working Paper no.100, 2015)

Participatory Video is a methodology premised on particular attitudes and behaviors that value collective and consensual decision-making and equalized power relations, seeking local solutions to local problems, through coming together, reflecting, communicating, and taking positive action.

The PV project was conducted following the successful implementation of the Quesungual Agroforestry System in the community of La Danta in the municipality of Somotillo (department of Chinandega, Nicaragua). The objectives of this PV project were to 1. increase participants’ awareness of ways they can influence and mitigate the effects of climate change they’re subject to; 2. empower local groups to take part in a process of analysis and response that celebrates indigenous knowledge and practice; 3. generate a better understanding of gender differences as they relate to climate change adaptation and mitigation; 4. generate knowledge and information that allows future projects in the region to better understand the local context when creating inclusive climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies that have a higher potential for success.

Click here for full paper.

Young Lives: How Youth in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe Consume Media (Discovery Learning Alliance, 2019)

Discovery Learning Alliance commissioned the Research, Insight and Evaluation team at M&C Saatchi World Services to help deepen their understanding of the rapidly changing media consumption habits of young people in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. The study offers a new analysis of existing data on youth media habits, alongside newly conducted targeted interviews with relevant experts to produce insights that will help us and others harness the opportunity for impact.

The report gives valuable insight into the preferences, interests and consumption habits of African youth. It also helps to understand what kind of content young people are seeking.

Click here for full report.

National Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategy for Integrated Early Childhood Development, Nutrition and WASH 2018 – 2024 (Government of Rwanda, 2018)

The National SBCC Strategy will build on the integration of Early Children Development, Nutrition and WASH sectors which provides opportunities of benefiting from integrated ECD, nutrition and WASH social behavior and communication services aiming at improving knowledge, attitude and practices at community and household levels.

This strategy seeks to address key determinants related to early children development, malnutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) mostly related to knowledge, attitude and practices at community and individual levels. There are many impediments within the health systems that prevent people from having productive and healthy lives. Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) addresses key barriers preventing people from adopting improved health practices. The Early Children Development, nutrition and WASH sectors within the health system can benefit positively from an SBCC strategy.

ECD, Nutrition and WASH have multi-sectoral dimensions that require contributions from different disciplines including but not limited to agriculture, economic strengthening, public health, gender, medicine, and social science. The theories and models fromthese different domains can be extracted to develop and deliver effective behavior change communications particularly in the context of promoting positive ECD, nutritional and WASH related practices at household and community level in Rwanda. By addressing key barriers related to ECD, Nutrition and WASH by promoting Community and Household integrated best practices, this will ensure optimum health status of the population of Rwanda.

Beyond Access: Using Digital to Further Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (Gender & Development online discussion)

Sara Baker of Take Back the Tech!

Dhanaraj Thakur from the Alliance for Affordable Internet, an initiative of the Web Foundation

Divya Titus #IWillGoOut Campaign, social activist and gender consultant

Introduced by Caroline Sweetman, Editor of G&D

Moderated by Amy O’Donnell, Digital Specialist at Oxfam, Board member of anti-harrassment charity Hollaback! and co-editor of our ICTs issue.

The webinar will be livestreamed on the Gender & Development Facebook page www.facebook.com/GaDjournal or join via your computer, tablet or smartphone on Go To Meeting. No need to pre-register – just click on the link below at 13.00 hrs BST Thursday 27 September. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/407544893 

Thursday 27 September, 13.00-14.30 British Summer Time (+1 GMT)

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